On November 15, 2018, the week-long China-Africa High-Level Seminar on Intellectual Property System and Policies concluded in the Patent Examination Cooperation Guangdong Center of the Patent Office, China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). CNIPA Deputy Commissioner He Zhimin attended and addressed the closing ceremony.

He Zhimin extended his congratulations to the success of the seminar. He remarked that the seminar, by ways of special lectures, field researches and panel discussions, effectively enhanced the understanding between CNIPA, African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and IP authorities of African countries, fully manifested needs of all countries for strengthening of exchanges, expansion of cooperation and mutual development in the IP field, reflected the common goal of strengthening construction of IP capacity, and complied with all countries' good wishes to conclude friendly partnership in IP international communication. He Zhimin emphasized that CNIPA is willing to strengthen cooperation with African IP authorities, deepen cooperation and friendship, and promote mutual development.

In the closing ceremony, Director General Dénis Loukou Bohoussou of OAPI expressed his thanks to the careful organization of the seminar and thoughtful arrangement during the period, and remarked that OAPI and its member states would further draw lessons from China's experience, expand the field of cooperation with China, and promote economic development and scientific, technological and cultural exchanges of the two sides. Other representatives presented at the seminar also spoke highly of the agenda setting of the seminar and organization of CNIPA, and expressed that they hoped to further strengthen communication and cooperation with China in the IP field.

During the meeting, more than 20 representatives from OAPI, its member states, and Morocco and Tunisia gathered together and made in-depth exchanges on China's IP development and practice, local IP policies and institutions, and application and protection of IP.

On the closing day, the two parties also had two-way communications on issues of improvement of public awareness of IP, IP and development of middle and small-sized enterprises, and promotion of IP development through international cooperation. (Translated from CNIPA Website Chinese Version)